Columbus, OH — Hubert “Mac” McLaren, 88, of Harrington, Del., died Oct. 28, 2023, at Bayhealth Sussex Campus.

He was the son of the late Andrew and Ida McLaren.

Mr. McLaren helped his father on their 300-acre farm, plowing the fields with horses, on Prince Edward Island as a young boy. His love for horses continued as he spent 25 years training horses in Maine and New Hampshire.

Some of his winning horses were Merry Ensign, Painter Hal, and Bye Bye Bertha, which he circuited through the various East Coast tracks.

Once he retired from racing, Mr. McLaren became a machinist for 25 years before retiring to Delaware. His love of horses and harness racing again saw him training and driving for the pony races. He traveled the East Coast again with Special Delivery who won three races in New York on one weekend.

In his younger years, he was also a lobsterman on Price Edward Island and a lumberman in Nova Scotia.

When he wasn’t racing or training, he was a very active member of the Lions Club since 1972, in Chester, N.H. He had the privilege of holding the past titles of Deputy District Governor, Zone Chairman, and President. He was an essential team member in the installation of a Veterans Memorial Monument in Chester. He was a lifetime member of Harrington Lions Club where he was presented the Melvin Jones Award. He always enjoyed working on the various projects with the Lions Club.

Mr. McLaren also enjoyed tending his garden, showing off his prize tomatoes every year.

He tended to be a quiet, shy man but he deeply loved his family. He considered his grandsons the best thing to ever happen to him. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Melanie; daughter, Carolann (Alan) Holt; grandsons, Andrew Holt and Forrest Holt; great-grandson, Emmett Holt; and sisters, Gladys, Alice McKinnon, and Hilda McDonald. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Gus, Jack, Roddy, Frank, Raymond, and Emmett; and sisters, Dotty, Hazel, Cecelia, and Helena.

A funeral service will be held on Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. at the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home, Inc., 15522 S. DuPont Hwy., Harrington, Del. A visitation will take place one hour prior, starting at Noon. Interment will immediately follow at Hollywood Cemetery, Harrington.